Originally Posted By Mr X <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/10/poll.cuba/index.html" target="_blank">http://edition.cnn.com/2009/PO...dex.html</a> Apparently, most of us (or at least two thirds to three quarters of us depending on the question) think this Cuba situation needs a change. Count me as one of them. <--lights up a tasty Cuban cigar, freely available where I live but NOT in America...
Originally Posted By plpeters70 You know, we freely trade with China, a country with a horrible human rights record, every day - so why not Cuba?
Originally Posted By DAR I'm not too thrilled with that either. But the thinking behind that is China is bigger and offers more than Cuba right now.
Originally Posted By SuperDry I think the thinking with current US policy toward Cuba in modern times (separate from the original issues involving the Missile Crisis, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War) is that during the Presidential election, you can't win Florida without strong support of the traditional Cuba foreign policy, and that you can't win the election without Florida. The 2008 election disproved both of these things, so I think that has opened the door for a more sensible policy toward Cuba, no matter how upset the Cuban community in Miami gets. US policy toward Cuba is one of the better examples of the odd side effects of the electoral college. Not that I'm saying it's wrong or should be changed, but it the electoral college does create strange situations from time to time.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo <<I'm in favor of it as soon as the Castro brothers drop dead.>> Well...maybe if we open trade negotiations for the exportation of McDonald’s french fries, they’ll drop dead sooner.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Count me in to ending the embargo altogether!! When I was living in San Francisco, i actually joined one of these hardcore Socialist groups that would actually go into Cuba once a year for two weeks and teach Americans about the Cuban way of life. I basically joined so I can get a cool trip out of Cuba basically lol, but later I thought they were TOO hardcore, so dropped out and didnt go on the trip . But I would say although back then I was actually on the fence about it, today I am totally for ending it and having stronger ties with Cuba again. Fidel is basically done at this point and his brother seems more open about things. He was the one who told Obama that EVERYTHING was on the table and Obama, being Obama, is willing to listen. I think this is a great oppurtunity. Could you have seen any conversation like that even hinted at between Bush and Fidel lol. Ah, no!! But now is the time. I imagine when Fidel finally goes, Raul will PUSH for better relations between America and Cuba instead of just dancing around the idea. Truth is, Cubans lives will fold 10X over with America now open to them and all that comes with it and I need a new spot on my passport and a chance to eat at the newly opened 3 story McDonalds opening in Havana. It's a win-win for everyone .
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder The classic car market will EXPLODE if we ever normal relations will Cuba. American collectors will be all over themselves trying to buy all the cars they can out of that place.
